Your First Car

[Wellardmac]

Nothing wrong with Vauxhall - they didn't have the problems of US GM cars. Their breeding was more German.

As of the Austin and the Ford Anglia - they were classic cars.

... The earliest car I remember of my father's would be a Triumph Spitfire. Now that's a car!

He always said that I could have his '81 Alfa Romeo Alfetta when I learned to drive - I was devastated when he sold it before I could drive. That was a nice car.

He then got into the habit of buying Jaguar XJS, but then sold his last one after Ford bought Jaguar - he stated that the would ruin the brand (they did) and he would never buy another.... sadly he has not.

[JAB993]

...certainly nothing wrong a Jaguar. For 2 or 3 years my father ran an XK 120 modified with a C-Type head. He never owned a new car but opted to buy pre-owned cars which he could never afford new. What you should  know is  that this 2-seater carried me, my brother, mother, father and a dog but you could only run with the roof up otherwise I would have been blown off the rear parcel shelf. Car sold for I think $800 well before I could ever get my hands on it legally.

Talking of Triumphs, do you recall the suspension that the Spitfire shared with the Herald; how those rear wheels tucked up under you when cornering, now that was scarey.

Owned a BMW 2002 "round-eye" (refers to the tail lights) now that was a great car; design, engine, ease of maintenance......German engineering again!

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be   

[Wellardmac]

JAB993 wrote:

Talking of Triumphs, do you recall the suspension that the Spitfire shared with the Herald; how those rear wheels tucked up under you when cornering, now that was scarey.

Owned a BMW 2002 "round-eye" (refers to the tail lights) now that was a great car; design, engine, ease of maintenance......German engineering again!

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

No, I was too young to pay much attention to mechanics - nice car to hear and see drive, but pretty scary generally in terms of safety.

As for Nostalgia, you are correct... people drool over 60's Mustangs, but if you try driving one of those monsters you can quickly outgrow the sentimentality.

[ZBlue996Kam]

I hate to admit it but it was a 76 Fiat X1/9 which I had a lot of fun with.

[ccm911]

JAB993 wrote:

Talking of Triumphs, do you recall the suspension that the Spitfire shared with the Herald; how those rear wheels tucked up under you when cornering, now that was scarey.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

Didn't they have to redesign that setup when they intoduced the GT6? I thought that was why the fixed head version was better?

Although nostalgia aint what t used to be, I would buy the right E-Type in a second if I had the money. I would want a series one with the "unstrangled" six.

As I get older, cars and motorcycles are becoming "sculpture" as well as toys to be beaten on.

[Porshagod]

The first car I had I purchased in 1975 for $800 ($400 me/$400 mom&dad) was a-

1) 57 Chevy, silver blue, w/ 396/550 hp, 4spd, 5.13 12 bolt posi, when it wasn't broke, ran 11.22 @ 118mph.

After that, then a-

2) 69 Firebird, black, 400 RA-3, 4spd.

3) 66 Vette, Coupe, silver, 427/435hp, 4spd, 4.11 rear. Sold it for $8,200. .

4) 75 Bricklin, orange, Ford 351W, auto, 2,000 orig miles.

5) 74 Pantera, yellow, Ford 351C, 5spd, the FASTEST car I've owned!

6) 78 Lotus Esprit S2, blue, looked cool but slow, sold 9 day later.

7) 78 Ferrari 308 GTS, grey/tan, wire wheels, Tubi.

8) 74 Porsche 914, red, 2.0 4 cyl, App. Gr., Monza.

9) 82 Corvette Collector Edition, silver, auto, 4,000 orig miles. 

From there, being in the car business, a little bit of everything, including:

Cadillacs(3), Chevys(2), Corvettes(3), Buick, Olds, Datsun, Jaguar, Maserati, Renault, Subaru, BMWs(3), Mercedes(3), VWs(3), an all orig '70 Porsche 914-6, etc, etc, etc.

The memory of EVERY one these cars and driving it is still so vivid in my mind, yet I can't remember what I had for lunch today. I guess I got it bad, but at least my priorities are in order!

Thanks for accompanying me on my drive down "Memory Lane".

[AMoore]

I am ashamed at the way my cars progressed since I turned 16 in 1981.

1971 Mustang Mach 1 with 351 Cleveland

1967 Camaro convertible with 250 straight six

1973 Pinto 4 banger

1975 Nova 250 straight 6

1982 Chevette 4 banger

1984 Pontiac Fiero

Beginning around 1990 or so I began driving decent cars again.

My best cars? 

1987 911 Widebody

1967 Camaro RS Convertible ( not the aforementioned, a replacement bought in 1990)

1968 Firebird Convertible with 350 CID.

I would be interested in other member's stories about the ones that got away that they wish they still had.

[APXD 30]

[size=While a poor student:][/size]

[size=1.      ][/size][size=’81 Fiat Spyder  ][/size]blew 2 engines

[size=2.      ][/size][size=’79 Jeep CJ7      ][/size]Installed a used 258cc with my Dad.

[size=3.      ][/size][size=’84 Toyota Tercel  ][/size](uninspired reliable transportation)

[size=4.      ][/size][size=’85 Nissan 300ZX  ][/size](broke down (trans) on the way home from Key West in SC)

[size=5.      ][/size][size=’91 Jeep Cherokee Loredo (hand me down, later sold to pay tuition)][/size]

[size=6.      ][/size][size=‘88 Sterling 825SL (broke down (trans) on the way home from Key West in DE) ][/size]

[size=7.      ][/size][size=’93 Subaru Legacy LSI (hand me down #2 crashed in blind alley- mostly my fault)][/size]

[size=8.      ][/size][size=’95 Plymouth Neon SRT coupe (newish and actually kind of sporty—sold to buy my wife’s engagement ring)][/size]

[size=9.      ][/size][size=’90 Honda Accord LX   ][/size](bought with 220,000 miles and ran great)

[size=10.  ][/size][size=’91 Acura Integra][/size]

 

[size=Since graduating from college in ’99:][/size][size= ][/size]

[size=11.  ][/size][size=’98 Olds LSS  ][/size](supercharged, black, boring, and trying too hard to fit in at the office)

[size=12.  ][/size]’95 Honda Accord EX Jenn’s first car[size=][/size]

[size=13.  ][/size][size=1999 Acura 3.0 CL, new][/size]

[size=14.  ][/size][size=2000 Ford Explorer, new][/size]

[size=15.  ][/size][size=2000 BMW 323i, used][/size]

[size=16.  ][/size][size=1996 Mercedes C220, used][/size]

[size=17.  ][/size][size=1996 Jeep Wrangler, used  ][/size](trying to relive the good old days)

[size=18.  ][/size][size=1997 Mercedes E320, used][/size]

[size=19.  ][/size][size=1999 Porsche Boxster, used][/size]

[size=20.  ][/size][size=2003 Honda Civic, new][/size]

[size=21.  ][/size][size=2004 Honda Accord, new][/size]

[size=22.  ][/size][size=2004 Infiniti G35x, new][/size]

[size=23.  ][/size][size=2006 Porsche Boxster S, new][/size]

[size=24.  ][/size][size=2006 VW GTI, new][/size]

[size=25.  ][/size][size=2003 Audi, A4 Quattro, used][/size]